Loose leaf binder



1955 G. H. EHLKE LOOSE LEAF. BINDER Filed Jan. l8, 1954 JNVENTOR. GLENNH. EHLKE ATTORNEY United States Patent LOOSE LEAF BINDER Glenn H. Ellke,Chicago, n.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,45S

1`Claim. (Cl. 129-24) My invention relates to loose leaf bindermechanism, the instant application being an improvement over my patentdesignated 2,661,004 issued December 1, 1953.

An important object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf binderwhich is adapted to hold a number of sheets or pages removably assembledtherein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of theaforementioned character in which loop elements, on which the leaves orloose pages are mounted, are unbroken and of substantially semi-ciroularconfiguration, the same being also provided with beveled ends tofacilitate assembly and removal thereof.

A still further object of myinvention is to provide a binder structureof the aforementione'd character which can be readily opened forinsertion thereinto, or removal therefrom, the pages having perforationsto fit the binder loop elements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf bindermechanism which is equipped with loop elements each being provided withretaning notch means adjacent their ends, so that the said loop elementsmay be opened on right or left hand sides of the loose leaf mechanism,in order to permit the loops to be opened and/or completely removed fromthe binder mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of theaforementioned character in which more or less loop elements may beoptionally utilized depending on the binding requirements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a device ormechanism of the aforementioned character looking ledges which arearticulately mounted so that either of the said ledges may be rotatedsubstantially within an arc of 180 when closing the folder structure, orwithin an angle of 90 for the removal or insertion of loose leaf pageswhen one end of the loop elements is freed from engagement.

A still further object of my invention is to provide looking ledge meanswhich are equipped with transverse partally cylindrical notches, thesaid loop elements being also provided adjacent their ends withtransverse partally cylindrical looking notches and looking rodsprovided with manipulating portions, the said looking rods being adaptedto optionally engage in looking relationship the transverse lookingnotches on the said loop elements and being further provided with fiatportions so that when the said looking rod elements are rotated 180,substantially, the flat portions thereof will permit release fromlooking engagement of the looking notches of the said loop elements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide eye bolt meansSecured in resilient relationship to the said swinging or looking ledgesin order to mount therein rotatably the said looking rod elements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a loose leafstructure which is simple in its Construction, praotical for thepurposes for which it is purported to be used, and one which can bemanufactured economically in quantity production.

2,7Z6,660 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 Other objects and ancillary advantagesresident in my invention will become apparent from an examination of theaccompanyingdrawings having further reference to the ensuing descriptionfor explanation of the construction and operation of the invention, inwhich like' symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my invention showing certain portionsthereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross-seotional view taken, substantially, on the line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and enlarged view of the lockingmeansillustrated in Fig. 2, shown in release, or in position to free oneend of the looking loop elements.

Fig. 5 is a cross-seotional view taken, substantially, on the line 5-5of Fig. 3.

Referring to the various views my invention is generally designated 6and consists of a cover structure having a right hand cover element 7and a left hand cover element 8 interconneoted by a central back bonesection 9, being also provided with the weakened portions 10 so as toprovide flexure and articulate connection between the cover elements 7and 8 and the back bone 9.

The binder mechanism consists of a number of loop elements 14 ofsubstantially semi-circular oonfi'guration provided with the beveledends 17 to facilitate looking assembly and release from lookingposition. The said looking loop elements 14 are provided with transversepartally cylindrical notches 18 adjacent their ends 17, and the same areengaged in looking engagement by the looking rods 19 provided with themanipulating handle portions 20. The looking rod elements 19 areprovided with flat portions 21 which act as a release when rotated tothe position indioated in Fig. 4 so that the looking notch 18 is not inlooking engagement with the looking rod 19. The loop elements areinserted in looking notches 13 which are cut transverse to the body ofthe swinging ledges 12, the ledges 12 being articulately connected tothe back bone section 9 by means of suitable hinges 11.

The looking rod elements 19 are maintained in operative position by eyebolts 26 which are Secured to the looking ledges 12 by means of look nut23 provided with spanner holes 25 to facilitate assembly of the eyebolts 26 and the nuts 23, the nuts 23 being further provided with aoentrally located tapped hole 24 for securing the threaded extension 27of the eye bolts 26. A resilient Washer 28 of rubber or like material isinterposed between the eye bolt 26 and the looking ledge 12 so as tofurnish a braking action to the looking rod elements 19. The lock nuts23 are fitted within nesting bores 22 in ledges 12.

Thus, when it is desired to insert pages into the binder mechanism oneof the ends is released as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2 byrotating the handle portion 20 from its locked position to the releaseposition as indicated in Fig. 4, one end of each and every loop element14 may be released and other pages inserted. In like manner, either theend 15 or 16 may be released. In Fig. 2 end 15 is'shown released. End 16may be released while end 15 is maintained in looking engagement, thuspermitting artioulation of the hinge element 11 on the right hand sideof Fig. 2 and vice versa the hinge element on the left may be operatedwhile the end 15 is released whereas the hinge element 11 on the rightmay be articulated when the end 16 of the loop element 14 is released.If both ends 15 and 16 are released the manipulating handles 20 of thelock rods 19 are rotated outwardly as contrasted with their inwardlooking position, in which event the fiats 21 afiord release fromengagement of the looking rod bodies by virtue of the algnment of theflat 21, thus permitting complete removal of the loop elements 14.Notches 13 are provided approximately an inch, or an nch and one quarterapart throughout the length of the locking ledges and since the flat 21exists practically throughout the entire length of the locking rod 19 asmany loop elements 14 or as few loop elements 14 may be distributed overthe length of the binder mechanism in order to afiord rigid security tothe contents that are bound.

When thinner pages are mounted it would be apparent that more loopelements 14 should be utilized. When more rigid pages are mounted suchas photographs on heavy Bristol board or paper, fewer loop elements 14would be required.

I believe I have herein illustrated and described the nature of myinvention, and expounded, in expository form, the teachings so thatthose familiar with the art will be able to practice my invention.Inasmuch as the same is susceptible of many modifications, alterations,and rnprovements, I hereby reserve the right to any improvements,alterations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of myinvention and disclosure, also the right to any improvements implablyembraced in the accompanying illustrations depicting the generallysuggested elemental structure of my invention, and also anymodifications, improvements, or alterations, falling within the purviewof the foregoing description; my invention to be limited only by thesubjoined claim.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Loose-leaf binder mechanism, comprising cover means including right handand left hand cover elements, flat back bone means disposedintermediately the said cover elements, right hand and left hand lockingledge elements provided with inner edges an'd bottom edges and mountedparallely with said inner edges facing one another, hinge elementssecuring articulately the said bottom edges of the said ledge elementsto the said back bone means, the said ledge elements being provided withtransverse notches along the said inner edges, a multiplicity of eyebolt elements secured to the said inner edges with the eye portionsthereof positioned in co-axial alignment, substantially cylindricallocking rod means rotatably mounted in the said eye bolt elements, loopelements removably secured in the said transverse notches and providedwith transverse notches adjacent their termini engageable releasably bythe cylindrical surfaces of the said locking rod means, continuouslongitudinal flat portions on the said locking rod means adapted torelease from locking engagement the said locking rod means with respectto the said last-mentioned transverse notches when the said locking rodmeans are rotated substantially and manipulating portions on the saidlocking rod means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,035,769 Bigelow Aug. 13, 1912 2,001,170 Watson May 14, 1935 2,116,798Osuch May 10, 1938 2,661,004 Ehlke Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 98,571Switzerland Apr. 2, 1923

